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Nicofiends activity

Hype Lab

A creative marketing activity where young people turn an ordinary object into a must-have product, then examine the tricks used to make it sound exciting.

What it explores

Marketing, hype, persuasion and selling a feeling.
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Time
15 to 20 mins
Age
Ages 11 to 16
Setting
Classroom, Youth group, Community setting
Group size
Pairs or small teams

Activity at a glance

Best for

Helping young people recognise how names, slogans, confidence and emotional promises can influence how a product feels.

You’ll need

Ordinary objects such as a spoon, sock, pencil, paper cup, plastic bottle, box or rubber band Paper Pens TimerPlace the objects on a table. Split the group into pairs or small teams. Give each team an object or let them choose one.
printable materials

Key message

Marketing often sells a feeling rather than the product itself. Names, slogans and emotional promises can make something ordinary appear exciting, useful or special.

How to run it

  • Give each team one ordinary object.
  • Explain that they have three minutes to turn it into a must-have product.
  • Ask them to create:
    • A product name
    • A slogan
    • Three appealing claims
    • A short pitch, written advert or poster
  • Ask teams to decide which feeling they are selling, such as confidence, calm, popularity, status or fun.
  • Teams may present their pitch, nominate a speaker, show a written advert or play a recorded version.
  • Invite the group to recognise entries in categories such as:
    • Most tempting
    • Funniest idea
    • Best product name
    • Most believable claim
  • Reveal the ordinary objects again and discuss how marketing changed the way they sounded.

Discussion prompts

  • Which marketing tricks did teams use?
  • Which feelings were being sold?
  • Which claims sounded believable without offering proof?
  • Did the story become more appealing than the object?
  • What information did the pitches leave out?

Reflection

Ask each group to name one marketing method they will be more likely to notice after the activity.

Link To Smoking, Vaping or Nicotine

Smoking, vaping and nicotine products may be presented through flavour, confidence, relaxation, popularity or fitting in. These messages can leave out cost, dependence, age restrictions, environmental harm or feeling stuck.

Adapting the activity

Make it Easier

Give each group a product name and one feeling to sell. Let them create a single slogan rather than a full pitch.

Make it Harder

Ask teams to create a second, honest version of the advert showing the information that the first pitch left out.

Safety Note

No one has to speak or perform. Teams may nominate a speaker, display a written advert or make an audio recording. Use ordinary objects rather than nicotine products or branded packaging.

Ready to Run The Acitvity

Download the activity PDF or go back to the resource hub to find another activity.

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